Page 120 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

VI.] SHERM TO SINAI. 101

Those which this indefatigable traveller found
on Serbal, together with the tombs, are most
probably anterior to the erection of the con­
vent at Jebel Musa, and may, in the penin­

sula, where there are numerous others*, de­
note an ancient place of pilgrimage; but how
can it be received as conclusive evidence of
its being Mount Sinai ? I should rather sus-
< pect that its summit was chosen by the monks
as the scene of some miracle or reinark-
able event recorded in Scripture; and, that
that was of no material import, may also, I
think, be inferred from its not having been

handed down to us either by the records of
the Monastery, monkish legends, or Bedowin
traditions.
From the character given of Justinian by
historians, he appears to have been both
learned and devout, and, in short, not likely
to expend his treasures or bestow his in­
fluence for the support of a fable. It is more
than probable he would have sent competent
persons to examine the country before the

* Churches and convents, at an early period, were numerous
here. Several existed at the ancient city of Feiran—Deir Scgitla;
and the ruins of some others arc found in the vicinity of Sinai.